NHS thrombectomy plan needs more doctors, say stroke experts

Stroke experts have warned that not enough doctors are trained to carry out mechanical thrombectomy, after NHS England announced that the procedure will be performed on all patients who have had acute ischaemic stroke.

NHS England said that the procedure, which involves removing a blood clot from the brain using a stent, would be introduced in 24 specialist neuroscience centres throughout the country from this year, eventually benefiting around 8000 patients a year.

The Royal College of Physicians first recommended mechanical thrombectomy for patients with acute ischaemic stroke in guidelines last year.1 A systematic review and meta-analysis …